You can’t always get what you want, but you just might find, you get what you need~

The old has turned into the new, another cycle starts, and this New Year begins. The winds here are gusting off and on and finally a series of storms are lined up, heavy with the promise of rain, so far, only leaves are falling. Nonetheless the rain will come, cleaning our air, the plants and settling the inevitable dust. Rain ~elemental science magic. Basic precipitation occurs when calcium oxide and sodium hydroxide are emitted into the atmosphere, undergo chemical transformations, and are absorbed by water droplets in clouds. The droplets then fall to earth as rain, snow, or sleet. Sounds so dry, so clinical, yet we have all felt the power of a good cleansing rain.

This week other forces have, both clinical and elemental, have been at work in my life. A lifelong friend has stepped up and has gone beyond the extraordinary, doing me an indescribable kindness. That kindness has lifted me up, helped make that which seemed impossible, possible. A warm rain of peace and hope has given me heart. The added benefit is that, this act has made me see how I hold myself back, yet again shown me exactly who my own worst enemy is. Always my battle, both spiritual and worldly, is with myself, the one thing that I both control positively and can control me negatively.

This week also brought yet another babe into my circle of friends. What is it about the sweet smell of a new babes head? Those eyes that seem to take in more than you do , you can feel the optimism, the openness, the sheer wonder of it all with just a glance into a child’s face. While other focus on all the slight imperfections

(the couple, the house, their prospects) I can only see promise, not wanting to cast a ray of doubt on what is a precious few moments of pure possibility. To help in bringing forth only the best, acknowledging the possibility of the worst ~yes. But I will not tend that fire, doom and gloom will be brought by another’s hand, not mine.

The Iowa caucus is old news; New Hampshire and Super Tuesday loom large. However, I ask a moment of reflection on what really came out of Iowa. Yes some, won, some lost. However, by the large numbers that turned out, I am heartened, it is as if Iowa said, “I know one vote can not make a difference, but I am voting anyway.” I am heartened it was talk of policy and not money that drove the delegate’s choices. Bombardment of slick ads did not win the day, slow reasoned talk did. It is as if Iowa said, “I know, all is corrupt past bearing, yet I am not”. I am very encouraged that despite a slip or three it was not negativity that won the day, it was a sense of union. It is as if Iowa said, “We are Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, but we are Americans first and last.” Both of the major parties picks went on in their acceptance speeches to urge a new day.

From Barack Obama’s victory speech, “We are choosing hope over fear. We’re choosing unity over division, and sending a powerful message that change is coming to America. ”

From Mike Huckabee’s victory speech, “Tonight, we proved that American politics still is in the hands of ordinary folks like you,” Huckabee told supporters in Des Moines. “A new day is needed in American politics, just like a new day is needed in American government,” he said.

It is as if the politicians have heard the people, more and more people each day asking for a united country, a country of red, white and blue melded into one symbol, for the common good. Could it be at long last we tire of hating each other? Could it be we long to burry our rancor at our fellow citizens? Could we dare to hope for a new day, for a rain to wash the past away? Could we be ready for the hard work of forgiveness, so we can forge a consensus?

I know this much to be true: when all I can see is the negative, that is all I see and often exactly, what I get. On those moments when faced with the surety of the negative, when I can stop myself, turn and see the possibility of the good, I often receive that good. There are still mountains of ill, so much so it often overwhelms me. However, other hands than mine must tend that fire. I go to make a fire by the shinning city on a hill, I go to nurture pure possibility in babies, and I go to see what is good and great in my country. I go to await change and the cleansing rain.

Peace as always and in all ways~sage